scholarly journals Theory of Technical Systems – Relationships to Engineering Sciences

Author(s):  
W. Ernst Eder

Products (process or tangible systems) are defined with reference to standard ISO9000:2005. Designing products with a substantial engineering content, technical systems (TS), means to fully describe them ready for manufacture – in detail and assembly drawings, parts lists, adjustment instructions, customer instructions, etc. Designing must take into account all recognized requirements, especially implied and stated requirements for the designing-manufacturing-distributing organization, the intended transformation process (TrfP), and all other phases of the TS-life cycle, including societal norms, economic considerations, etc. The theory of technical systems (TTS) and its associated engineering design science (EDS) provides a framework for design considerations about engineering products, including the technology, TS-life cycle, properties, and other aspects of artificial transformations and their operators. The triad ‘theory - subject - method’ suggests that a systematic enginee-ring design method can be derived from TTS and EDS, to augment the usual intuitive design procedure, especially where the design problem is not routine. Engineering sciences are essential in this design process, (a) for analysis of existing systems and/or proposals for synthesis of designed systems, and (b) to assist as heuristics during design synthesis. Design synthesis is the more difficult operation, it requires iterative working. Several case examples have been published to demonstrate the application of the recommended systematic design method. Some of the relationships between engineering sciences and systematic design processes are explored to show their interdependence, and the need to provide a wider context in this area.

Author(s):  
W. Ernst Eder

‘Design’ can be a noun, or a verb. Six paths for research into engineering design (as verb) are identified, they must be co-ordinated for internal consistency and plausibility. Design Research tries to clarify design processes and their underlying theories – designing in general, and particular forms, e.g. design engineering. Theories are a basis for deriving theory- based design methods. Design engineering and artistic forms of designing, industrial design, have much in common, but also differences. For an attractive and user-friendly product, its form (observable shape) is important – a task for industrial designers, architects, etc. ‘Conceptualizing’ consists of preliminary sketches, a direct entry to hardware – industrial designers work ‘outside inwards’. For a product that should work and fulfill a purpose, perform a transformation process, its functioning and operation are important – a task for engineering designers. Anticipating and analyzing a capability for operation is a role of the engineering sciences. The outcome of design engineering is a set of manufacturing instructions, and analytical verification of anticipated performance. Design engineering is more constrained than industrial design, but in contrast has available a theory of technical systems and its associated engineering design science, with several abstract models and representations of structures. Engineering designers tend to be primary for technical systems, and their operational and manufacturing processes – they work ‘inside outwards’. Hubka’s theory, and consequently design metho- dology, includes consideration of tasks of a technical system, typical life cycle, duty cycle, classes of properties (and requirements), mode of action, development in time, and other items of interest for engineering design processes. Hubka’s methodology is demonstrated by several case examples.


Author(s):  
W. Ernst Eder

The engineering design methodology of Pahl and Beitz is good in the detailed stages, but needs enhancement in the early stages of conceptualizing and embodiment-in-principle. The concept of ‘functions’ has been enhanced by Hubka and colleagues. A ‘functional basis’ (Hirtz et al) has improved the definitions of ‘flows’ and ‘functions’, their work does not go far enough to provide a basis for conceptualizing. ‘Affordances’ (Maier and Fadel) are covered by full use of systematic conceptualizing of design engineering solutions. The Pahl-Beitz model and method of ‘decomposition of functions’, ‘physics’, and components is contrasted with the Hubka models of a transformation system, TrfS, its constituents, structures, properties life cycle, etc., and their use as method for design engineering by searching for alternative embodiments at each of these levels of abstraction. These steps are illustrated in (to date) 21 case examples published between 1976 and 2012, several of them in the CEEA conferences and their predecessors.


Author(s):  
W. Ernst Eder

Design engineering is different from other more artistic forms of designing because on one hand it is more constrained by the engineering sciences, economics and other factors, but on the other hand it has more possibilities for abstract modeling in the conceptual phases. Creativity is essential, but in many cases not sufficient to explore the many possible candidate solutions. A more systematic and methodical approach can help to overcome many of the problems that arise during conceptualizing in design engineering. Use of appropriate methods to enhance the search for solutions can expand the solution field. A systematic approach based on engineering design science has been shown to enhance understanding, good record-keeping, and traceability for the design process. Several grounded theories are reviewed and brought into mutual context, they refer to memory and thinking operations, expertise, human action modes, and competencies. The discussion reveals a need for specific instructions for a methodical and systematic engineering design procedure, when the design problem is seen as non-routine, and expertise is lacking.


Computing ◽  
2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jesper Andersson ◽  
Vincenzo Grassi ◽  
Raffaela Mirandola ◽  
Diego Perez-Palacin

AbstractThe resilience system property has become more and more relevant, mainly because of the increasing dependance on a rapidly growing number of software-intensive, complex, socio-technical systems, which are facing uncertainty about changes they are expected to experience during their life-cycle and ways to deal with them. Methodologies for the systematic design and validation of resilience for such systems are thus highly necessary, and require contributions from several different fields. This paper contributes to current resilience research by providing a conceptual framework intended to serve as a common ground for the development of such methodologies. Its main points are: the identification of the main categories of changes a system should face; a clear definition of the different facets of resilience one could want to achieve, expressed in terms of the system dynamics; a mapping of each of these facets to design strategies that are better suited to achieve it; and the corresponding identification of possible metrics that can be used to assess its achievement.


2020 ◽  
Vol 857 ◽  
pp. 130-137 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ali A. Abdulhameed ◽  
Abdul Muttalib I. Said

The main objective of this study is to introduce a systematic design procedure for short-span segmental beams following a sophisticated ACI 440.2R-17 design procedure. The general aspects of innovative short-span segmental beams are easy to fabricate, economical and rapidly placed in pre-specified positions. Short-span segmental beams fabricated from individual precast plain-concrete blocks and CFRP plates. Recently, experimental tests performed on short-span segmental beams, by the authors, investigated CFRP plate-bonding, CFRP plate cross-sectional area, the thickness of plate-bonding epoxy resin, surface-to-surface condition of concrete blocks, as well as, interface condition of the bonding surface. The experimental program comprises testing of eight short-span segmental beams with an overall length, width and depth of (900, 200 and 80) mm, respectively, divided into four groups and subjected to 4-point bending test. The investigated test specimens exhibited considerable flexural strength under loading. Systematic designing of short-span segmental beams (SSSB) is presented in the current research. The advanced design method of SSSB with 1-layer of CFRP plates revealed an overestimation in ultimate strength by (73 and 15) % from the tested SSSB consisted of 1-layer CFRP/cementitious adhesive and SSSB has 1-layer CFRP/epoxy adhesive; respectively. Whereas the design method of SSSB with 2-layer of CFRP plates resulted in overestimation in strength by (71 and 45) % from the physical models of SSSB consisted of 2-layer CFRP/cementitious adhesive and SSSB has 2-layer CFRP /epoxy adhesive; respectively.


Author(s):  
W. Ernst Eder

Systematic engineering design can use thetools, models and methods recommend by Hubka to helpdesigners, especially in critical situations. These methodscan be applied for novel designing, or for re-designing.In teaching, observations of students revealed difficultiesin applying and formulating “internal and crossboundaryfunctions” of technical systems (TS), and of“operations” in a transformation process (TrfP).A strategy to overcome these difficulties is to introducesufficient theory, then to provide a re-design problem,using an existing commercial device, (a) as a cut-away toshow the inner workings, and (b) as a complete devicethat can be dis-assembled – accompanied by engineeringdrawings of each part, an assembly drawing and anexploded view. Students (1) studied the hardware anddrawings, (2) identified elemental organs, and usefulorgan groups, and (3) wrote their interpretation of whateach organ group is capable of doing – the TS-internaland/or cross-boundary functions, to be represented in aTS-function structure. An example is offered.


2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (7) ◽  
pp. 3017
Author(s):  
Qiang Gao ◽  
Siyu Gao ◽  
Lihua Lu ◽  
Min Zhu ◽  
Feihu Zhang

The fluid–structure interaction (FSI) effect has a significant impact on the static and dynamic performance of aerostatic spindles, which should be fully considered when developing a new product. To enhance the overall performance of aerostatic spindles, a two-round optimization design method for aerostatic spindles considering the FSI effect is proposed in this article. An aerostatic spindle is optimized to elaborate the design procedure of the proposed method. In the first-round design, the geometrical parameters of the aerostatic bearing were optimized to improve its stiffness. Then, the key structural dimension of the aerostatic spindle is optimized in the second-round design to improve the natural frequency of the spindle. Finally, optimal design parameters are acquired and experimentally verified. This research guides the optimal design of aerostatic spindles considering the FSI effect.


2007 ◽  
Vol 31 (2) ◽  
pp. 167-190 ◽  
Author(s):  
Zhang Ying ◽  
Yao Yan-An ◽  
Cha Jian-Zhong

This paper proposed a novel concept of active balancer for dynamic balancing of planar mechanisms. Somewhat similar to a vibration absorber, the active balancer is designed as an independent device, which is placed outside of the mechanism to be balanced and can be installed easily. It consists of a two degree-of-freedom (DOF) linkage with two input shafts, one of which is connected to the output shaft of the mechanism to be balanced by a joint coupling, and the other one is driven by a controllable motor. Flexible dynamic balancing adapted to different working conditions can be achieved by varying speed trajectories of the control motor actively. A design method is developed for selecting suitable speed trajectories and link parameters of the two DOF linkage of the balancer to meet various design requirements and constraints. Numerical examples are given to demonstrate the design procedure and to verify the feasibility of the proposed concept.


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